Lanzarote is located just seventy miles away from the coast of West Africa. Making it the most easterly of the seven islands in the Canary Islands chain. On a similar line of latitude to parts of Florida, Mexico and the Bahamas.

And as you’d expect from an island that is located in such close proximity to the continent of Africa and the Sahara desert, Lanzarote enjoys very little rainfall – with a total precipitation averaging out at just 11 centimetres a year. Whilst temperatures on the island stay at a minimum of 20 Celsius all year round. Climatic factors that combine to make Lanzarote an ideal holiday destination.

As a result of this enviable climate Lanzarote is popular with tourists from all over Northern Europe. Scandinavians visit the island in large numbers – especially during the winter months. Whilst around one million British and Irish tourists arrived on flights to Lanzarote during the course of 2007.

Over the course of its history Lanzarote has enjoyed a number of unusual appellations. In Phoenician times, for example, lichen called Orchilla was grown in northern regions of the island. In areas such as Famara and Haria. From which these traders extracted a purple dye – earning Lanzarote the title of the Purple Island. Whilst in ancient times the island – along with the other Canary Islands – was thought to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis.

Today Lanzarote is best known as the Island of Fire though. Thanks to the fact that around one quarter of the land here was submerged by a sea of molten lava, as Lanzarote was subjected to a terrifying six year long volcanic eruption. Which started in 1730. Driving many islanders to flee and seek new lives abroad.

Today, the islands volcanic region – located in the Timanfaya National Park – is by far and away the biggest tourist draw on Lanzarote. With over one million visitors enjoying the moon like lava scape left in the wake of the volcanic eruptions. Elsewhere on the island the Jameos del Agua, another major tourist draw, has also been created from the remnants of volcanic activity. Thanks to the efforts of the island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique.

The bulk of visitors opt to stay in apartments or holiday villas in Lanzarote during their stay. As hotel accommodation only accounts for around 40% of the islands total tourist capacity. Many visitors also go on to purchase a property on the island from local estate agents. Which they are then able to enjoy as a holiday home whilst also renting it out to other tourists for the rest of the year. A potentially lucrative business given Lanzarote´s year round rental calendar.

For great deals on flights to Lanzarote visit the Canary Islands website, or go here for detailed information about holiday villas in Lanzarote. A holiday on this beautiful Island will see you coming back again and again as there is literally so much to see and do here from the cultural Legacy of Manrique to the outstanding natural beauty, and for those preferring to holiday aU natural their is a good selection of naturist beaches on the island too.